Current Activities: Battery removal from the Moss 300 building and the de-energization and transportation of batteries is ongoing. Representatives from U.S. EPA are onsite and continue to oversee recovery operations. Limited demolition work continues, including the removal of additional portions of Moss 300’s exterior walls.
Battery Removal: As of November 7, 3,832 intact battery modules have been removed, de-energized, and shipped to approved recycling facilities.
Next Steps: We expect removal of intact batteries and demolition activities to continue for the next several months. These processes will alternate as the continued removal of portions of the building’s exterior walls will allow crews to access additional intact batteries.
RECOVERY PROGRESS
SITE STATUS
All battery facilities at the site remain offline; the natural gas plant is operational.
Air quality monitoring and sampling is ongoing around the plant’s perimeter and in the surrounding community. No hazardous air conditions have been detected.
INCIDENT OVERVIEW
On Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, a fire occurred at the 300MW battery energy storage facility (Moss 300) at Vistra’s Moss Landing site in Monterey County, California. Company personnel immediately responded, and the North County Fire Protection District was dispatched to the scene. The fire was contained to the Moss 300 building and did not spread to any of the other energy storage facilities or the natural gas plant located on site.
Multiple agencies and organizations have monitored local air, water, and soil. To date, no risks to public health have been observed.
Air quality monitoring and sampling during and after the incident found no hazardous air conditions or risks to public health. These findings have been confirmed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Monterey Bay Air Resources District. Out of an abundance of caution, air monitoring and sampling remain ongoing on the site and in the nearby community while recovery operations are underway.
Approximately 1,200 nearby residents were evacuated for 24 hours as a precaution. To assist these residents, Vistra established a community assistance program to offset any evacuation expenses. Vistra also established a business claims program for businesses located in the evacuation zone or operating at or out of Moss Landing Harbor to file a claim for financial assistance.
INVESTIGATION PROGRESS
The cause of the January 16 fire remains unknown, and suggestions as to its cause or contributing factors are speculation. We are currently conducting a thorough, methodical investigation into the cause and have retained multiple outside experts who are assisting in this effort. The ongoing cleanup and recovery efforts will also advance the investigation, as we will gain additional access to damaged portions of the building.
Investigations like these take time, and we ask for your patience as our teams examine a myriad of data points to understand what happened. In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to be transparent with local officials, regulatory agencies, and the public on the next steps for the Moss Landing battery facilities and the findings of our investigation.
U.S. EPA Community Involvement Plan
